Surface mountable cargo restraining device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an inexpensive detachable surface-mounted cargo-restraining apparatus for use on a vehicle or vessel while in transit that includes one or more cords attached to self-retracting reels that are anchored to a surface in the cargo area of the vehicle or vessel. A suitable hook is attached to the free end of each cord on each reel. Each cord may then be pulled from its reel so that its respective hook may be engaged with a cargo item (e.g. the handle portions of a bag) to secure the item. Each reel retracts causing the hook to hold the cargo item in place. As the vehicle is driven, the hooks and cords restrain the items from opening or spilling their contents.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/188,065 filed Mar. 6, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to cargo restraining devices, and in particular to a unique detachable surface mountable cargo restraining device for use in vehicles and vessels.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Sport utility vehicles (SUV's), mini-vans and other vehicles as well as boats, watercraft, aircraft and other vessels have cargo areas for storage and transport of miscellaneous items. In many vehicles, there is a cargo area behind the last seat that may be accessed through a door or doors at the rear. Many aircraft are provided with overhead storage bins. These cargo areas vary in size depending on the particulars of the vehicle or vessel, but all of them suffer from the drawback of spillage or breakage of cargo while the vehicle or vessel is in motion. The miscellaneous cargo that is temporarily placed in these cargo areas may include such things as grocery bags, shopping bags, boxes, cartons, containers, canisters, bottles, luggage, electronic appliances, etc. and can be made of paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, metal, vinyl, leather or other materials. Thus, the cargo can have many different sizes, shapes and/or fragility. As an example, the contents of a few grocery bags may be spilled out of the bags during transit resulting in potential bruising of produce, damage to cookies and chips, breakage of containers (particularly from agitation of carbonated beverage containers), and the like. Or a fragile piece of glassware may fall out of an overhead bin after a bumpy flight. It is therefore desirable to provide a restraining device for items placed in the cargo areas of vehicles and vessels during transit.

[0006] The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,457 describes a conformal mesh member attached to a retraction mechanism that can be pulled out and engaged over products to hold them in place. However, there must be hooks, bolts or other critical points in the cargo area for this mesh to engage with. The load-restraining device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,263 provides a strap attached to a crank for use in the bed of a truck. However, this device is effective only when used to restrain large cargo items having rigid edges (e.g. boxes, crates, etc.); the strap itself would damage softer goods during transport. The item support attachment of U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,457 includes a set of fixed-position hooks designed for attachment to the back seat of a vehicle to hold shopping bags and the like. However, this device only restrains cargo in the immediate vicinity of the support attachment itself, and requires that the cargo items have loops, handles or other means for engagement with the hooks of the attachment.

[0007] It is therefore desirable to provide an inexpensive, retrofitable and reliable self-contained cargo-restraining device that is capable of restraining items located in any position in the cargo area of a vehicle or vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an inexpensive detachable surface-mounted cargo-restraining apparatus for use on a vehicle or vessel while in transit that includes one or more cords attached to self-retracting reels that are anchored to a surface in the cargo area of the vehicle or vessel. A suitable hook is attached to the free end of each cord on each reel. Each cord may then be pulled from its reel so that its respective hook may be engaged with a cargo item (e.g. the handle portions of a bag) to secure the item. Each reel retracts with sufficient force for the hook to hold the cargo item in place, but not enough force to lift or move the item. As the vehicle is driven, the hooks and cords restrain the items from opening or spilling their contents. A single hook and cord may be used to restrain several different cargo items by stringing the cord to or through the items. In alternative embodiments, multiple reel-and-hook combinations may be provided in single device to provide for additional restraining capacity, and multiple banks of such multiple devices may also be provided to further increase restraining capacity.

[0009] The reel-and-hook combinations of the present invention are mounted on a support member or rack that is detachably anchored to the side walls of the cargo area of the vehicle or vessel. The rack may be anchored using any suitable attachment device including without limitation interengaging hooks-and-loops (Velcro®) for use, for example, in attachment to the rear surface of the back seat of a vehicle, on a side wall, on a wall inside the trunk, etc.; or suction cups for attachment to windows or smooth walls of the cargo area. A Velcro® strip may be provided on the back of the reel support rack for engagement with a corresponding Velcro strip attached to a wall in the cargo area of the vehicle or vessel. The invention may also be used in other cargo storage areas where shifting of contents may occur during travel, such as overhead passenger storage bins in aircraft or trains.

[0010] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a detachable self-contained cargo restraining device for use in a vehicle or vessel.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cargo restraining device that may be installed in the cargo area of a car, truck, SUV, boat, aircraft, train or recreational vehicle (RV).

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cargo restraining device that is capable of restraining miscellaneous items having varying sizes, shapes and fragility located in any position in the cargo area of a vehicle or vessel.

[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cargo restraining device that utilizes a plurality of cords each cord having one end attached to a self-retracting reel installed on a support structure, the opposite end of the cord having a securing device attached thereto such as a hook, magnet, strap, Velcro, clamp, clip, snap, screw, glue, nail, or string.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cargo restraining device having a plurality of combinations of hooks, cords and self-retracting reels mounted on a support structure that may be installed on a surface in the cargo area in an SUV, in a vehicle trunk, in a storage compartment of an aircraft or train, in a recreational vehicle, in the bed of a truck, in a glove compartment, in a vehicle seat, in a seat headrest, on a window, window sill or ceiling.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo restraining device that may be attached to a surface in a storage area of a car, truck, boat, aircraft, train, or recreational vehicle or vessel using suction cups, Velcro®, snaps, straps, clips or other detachable means for holding the device in place.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo restraining device that may be integrally or permanently attached to a surface in a storage area of a car, truck, boat, aircraft, train, or recreational vehicle or vessel.

[0017] Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed descriptions and the claims herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional end view of the present invention along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a hook extended from the body of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a hook extended from the body of the invention engaged with an article of cargo.

[0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective environmental view showing the invention deployed in the back of an SUV.

[0024]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 showing a hook extended from the body of the invention.

[0026]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 showing the invention mounted to a window of a vehicle.

[0027]FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention attached to a vehicle head rest.

[0028]FIG. 11 is a back view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention integrated into a vehicle head rest.

[0029]FIG. 12 is a back view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention integrated into a vehicle seat back.

[0030]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention integrated into a vehicle window sill or body panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 it is seen that the invention includes a hollow generally rectangular body member 11 having a front surface 13 and a rear surface 15. A plurality of self-retracting reels 21 are provided inside body member 11, each reel including a retractable cord 25. Reels 21 may be of any suitable type commonly employed in the use of other retractable devices such as tape measures, animal leashes, and electric cord retractors. Each cord 25 passes through an opening 26 provided in front surface 13 of body member 11. One end of each cord 25 is attached inside reel 21, and the opposite end of each cord is attached to a securing means such as a hook or clamp 29. Alternative securing means 29 may include without limitation combinations of hooks, magnets, straps, Velcro®, clamps, clips, snaps, screws, glue, nails, or string.

[0032] The rear surface 13 of body member 11 is provided with a support and attachment device 31. Device 31 may be in the form of suction cups 32 (as illustrated in FIG. 2), for attachment to a smooth surface such as a window 41 (see FIG. 9) or plastic wall, one or more magnets, one or more cords, etc. Alternatively, a strip 35 of interengaging (Velcro®) hooks may be provided on surface 13 for engagement with the fuzzy surface (loops) found on such places as the back of a rear seat 46, the sidewalls of a cargo area, the floor of a trunk, or a ceiling. If no such fuzzy (looped) surface is available, a separate strip 36 having interengaging loops may be adhered to the mounting surface, and the strip 35 on the rear surface 13 may be engaged with strip 36 to support body member 11. Other forms for device 31 include an elastic cord (which can be secured to the back side of a seat headrest as shown in FIG. 10), snaps, straps, clips or other detachable devices.

[0033] In use in an SUV, the restraining device of the present invention may be attached, for example, to a window using suction cups (see FIG. 9), or to the back of the back seat using Velcro®. Grocery bags 38 or other items are placed in the storage area adjacent to the device. One or more hooks are then pulled from the device and engaged with the handles or openings on the bags. When the hooks are released, the tension in the reels draws slack out of the cord 25. This tension is sufficient to keep slack out of the cord, but should not be so great as to lift the bag thereby allowing some slight movement during transit. The hook on the tension cord not only keeps the bag in place, it also helps keep it closed thereby avoiding spillage of its contents. Upon reaching the destination, the hook or hooks are disengaged from the bags which causes the reel to automatically retract them. The bags may then be removed from the cargo area.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment, the hooks 29 are made of wire or resilient plastic or rubber. Support rack or body member 11 is made of a durable resilient plastic, although wood or metal may also be used. Each cord 25 should be strong and have sufficient length to extend across the cargo area. Ordinarily up to four feet (between 30″ and 48″) of cord should be sufficient for each reel.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, one or more flanges 35 having openings 36 may be provided on body member 11 to receive a cord, strap, rope, the hook of a bungee cord, and the like. These flanges 35 provide an anchor for such external restraining devices.

[0036] In another alternative embodiment as shown in FIGS. 7-9, body member 11 may have a contoured shape and hooks 29 may be of a thin metal variety.

[0037] In another alternative embodiment, the body member 11 may be integrally and/or permanently attached to the interior of a cargo area of a vehicle or vessel, as illustrated by example in FIG. 13. Alternatively, body member 11 may be integrated into a vehicle seat head rest 49 (see FIG. 11) or integrated into the back of a back seat 50 (see FIG. 12).

[0038] While the preferred embodiment herein is directed primarily to use in SUV's, minivans, passenger vehicles and RV's, adaptations can be made to enable its use in all types of moving vehicles. Adaptations can be made to enable its use in the baggage compartments of airplanes and trains. Also, commercial versions may be evolved enabling use in industry and commerce such as in the vehicles of package delivery firms and postal services.

[0039] It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing specification. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cargo restraining device for use on a vehicle or vessel comprising a resilient hollow body member having a plurality of cords attached to corresponding retractable reels deployed inside said body member, a corresponding plurality of openings in said body member through which said cords extend out from the inside of said body member, and a plurality of corresponding engagement hooks at the ends of said cords.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said body member is provided with an external mount for removably attaching said device to a surface in the cargo area of a vehicle or vessel.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said external mount includes a strip of engagement hooks on an outside surface of said body member for interengagement with corresponding loops on a surface of said cargo area.
 4. The device of claim 2 wherein said external mount includes at least one suction cup for engagement with a smooth surface of said cargo area.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein said external mount includes at least one cord for engagement around a seat of a vehicle or vessel.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is integrated into a surface panel of the storage area of a vehicle or vessel.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is integrated into the back of a seat of a vehicle or vessel.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein said device is integrated into the back of a head rest of a seat of a vehicle or vessel.
 9. The device of claim 2 wherein said hooks are made of material selected from the group of wire, resilient plastic and rubber.
 10. A device for supporting items of cargo in a cargo area of a vehicle or vessel comprising a hollow body member containing a plurality of cords mounted on retractable reels, a corresponding plurality of openings in said body member through which said cords pass from the inside to the outside of said body member, a corresponding plurality of hooks on the outside ends of said cords, and a support mount on the exterior surface of said body member for detachably mounting said member to a surface of a vehicle or vessel.
 11. A cargo restraining device for use on a vehicle or vessel comprising a resilient hollow body member having a plurality of cords attached to corresponding retractable reels deployed inside said body member, a corresponding plurality of openings in said body member through which said cords extend out from the inside of said body member, a plurality of corresponding engagement means at the ends of said cords selected from the list of hooks, magnets, straps, interengaging hooks and loops, clamps, clips, snaps, screws, glue, nails, and string, and an external mount on said body member selected from the list of suction cups, magnets, cords and interengaging hooks and loops, for removably attaching said device to a surface in the cargo area of a vehicle or vessel. 